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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
69
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX520 HS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Canon SX520 HS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1008mm (F3.4-6.0) lens
  • 441g - 120 x 82 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2014
  • Replaced the Canon SX510 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX530 HS
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the SX520 HS (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX520 HS was unveiled 2 years after the WG-2 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SX520 HS scores vs the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX520 HS over the Pentax WG-2

 SX520 HS WG-2 
IntroducedJuly 2014February 2012Newer by 31 months
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Canon SX520 HS

 WG-2 SX520 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2

 SX520 HS WG-2 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SX520 HS has got exterior measurements of 120mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") and a weight of 441 grams (0.97 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the SX520 HS versus the WG-2.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX520 HS and WG-2 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The pic below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SX520 HS and WG-2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of files although you need to consider the release date of the products into consideration. The newer SX520 HS should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography info
44
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
40
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Street photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Street photography factors
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
54
environment proofing
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Sports photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Sports photography camera
45
great zoom range (24-1008mm 42.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
38
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography factors
55
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (1008mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
70
environment proofing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX520 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
45
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery pack (210 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16MP)
environment proofing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX520 HS Vlogging details
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging details
29
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
30
really wide (28mm)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Canon SX520 HS vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX520 HS and Pentax WG-2
 Canon PowerShot SX520 HSPentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Pentax Optio WG-2
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Introduced 2014-07-29 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4+ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1008mm (42.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-6.0 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 0cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.50 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 441 grams (0.97 pounds) 192 grams (0.42 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 82 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 3.6") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 images 260 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $219 $350